Crypto Investors Under Threat As Report Confirms Spike In Crypto Kidnappings; US and France Top Targets

A report released by Binance today, has revealed a growing trend for crypto kidnappings, with United States leading and France closely following. The US has seen the most crypto kidnapping cases since 2019, despite a recent spike in France. Recent kidnappings including minors is showing a disturbing global trend. Are crypto investors under threat?

Crypto Kidnappings on the Rise: US & Europe Remain Vulnerable

As per the report, US has seen the highest number of crypto kidnapping cases since 2019, with a notable correlation between rising crypto prices and increased targeting of perceived crypto holders. North America, which includes the United States and Canada, recorded a total of 48 crypto-related abduction cases during the period.

At the same time, Europe tops the list regionally with 59 crypto-related kidnappings over the past six years. France is among the countries most affected, with three similar cases occurring in 2025 alone. It is particularly noteworthy that the Asian continent stands out with a staggering 62 documented cases. Among these, a majority is concentrated in Southeast Asian countries, highlighting the region’s vulnerability to such crimes.

France Shows Spike In Kidnappings, Authorities At Alert

As France has faced increasing crypto threats over the past weeks, including high-profile kidnappings, the French authorities have launched a severe scrutiny, resulting in the arrests of 12 suspects. The arrest is particularly concerning, as several minors were among those detained.

The most recent crypto kidnapping attempt took place on May 13, when three men targeted the daughter and grandson of Pierre Noizat, CEO of French crypto exchange Paymium, in a brazen daylight attack in Paris. However, the attempt was foiled when Noizat’s daughter resisted and bystanders stepped in, with the incident captured on video by nearby witnesses. Another case was reported in May when French authorities successfully rescued the father of a crypto marketing entrepreneur. He was kidnapped and held for a ransom of €5-7 million.

One of the most serious crimes reported this year included the abduction of Ledger co-founder David Balland and his wife.

Le Parisien reports that the investigation into the foiled kidnapping of Noizat’s family is ongoing, with no arrests yet. But six individuals tied to the abduction of the crypto entrepreneur’s father have been apprehended and jailed. In addition, France’s Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau introduced increased security measures to protect crypto entrepreneurs and their families residing in the country.

Crypto is a open source industry with most wallet details like account balance, transaction details and assets publicly accessible. Recently, MicroStrategy founder Michael Saylor posited that publishing proof-of-reserves is a “bad idea,” sparking controversy. However, his comments are particularly timely given the recent surge in crypto-related crimes. The new age analytics tools have made it very easy to track particular high net worth wallets and this makes these people easy target for kidnappers.